Red Byron

Red Byron
Red Byron's car displayed in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
BornRobert Nold Byron
(1915-03-12)March 12, 1915
Plasterco, Virginia, U.S.
DiedNovember 11, 1960(1960-11-11) (aged 45)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Cause of deathHeart attack
Achievements1949 Strictly Stock Champion (NASCAR's first official season)

1948 NASCAR Modified Champion (NASCAR's first season and its first Modified season)
1949 Daytona Beach Road Course Winner (Inaugural race)

Led Strictly Stock in wins (1949)
AwardsNational Motorsports Hall of Fame (U.S.) (1966)
Named one of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers (1998)
NASCAR Hall of Fame (2018)
Named one of NASCAR's 75 Greatest Drivers (2023)
NASCAR Cup Series career
15 races run over 3 years
Best finish1st (1949)
First race1949 Race No. 1 (Charlotte)
Last race1951 Southern 500 (Darlington)
First win1949 (Daytona Beach)
Last win1949 (Martinsville)
Wins Top tens Poles
2 9 2
Statistics current as of February 22, 2013.

Robert Nold "Red" Byron (March 12, 1915 – November 11, 1960) was an American stock car racing driver, who was successful in NASCAR competition in the sanctioning body's first years. He was NASCAR's first Modified champion (and its first champion in any division) in 1948 and its first Strictly Stock (predecessor to NASCAR Cup Series) champion in 1949. Along with Bob Flock, he is considered one of the best drivers of the era.[1] He won the first NASCAR race at Daytona Beach and Road Course and won the inaugural NASCAR Strictly Stock driver's championship.[1]

  1. ^ a b Francis, Jim (15 January 2008). The History of NASCAR. Crabtree Publishing Company. pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-0-7787-3186-3. Retrieved 5 January 2013.